level, she was hoping this farcical arrangement was meaning more to him, like it was to her.
She shouldn’t be so fanciful. There had been very definite guidelines set for their sham. They had the fake—perhaps no longer so fake—attraction between them. They were okay with exclusivity and sex during the time he was home. Then, depending on what the results were, they would go from there.
Cullen climbed up into the seat and settled between them. Her heart reminded her, yet again, she’d also fallen for the little boy.
“How about you? What got you into woodworking?”
Pain welled up in her at the thought of Reggie. More so, because that led to thoughts of her sweet, sweet boy…
“I learned from a guy I was dating.” That was the truth. “He taught me, and I found not only did I love it, but I was pretty good at it.”
He gave a chuckle, sliding his hand to cup her nape. “You’re goddamn amazing.”
“Potty mouth.” Cullen’s laugh made her smile. “He owes the jar.”
“You’re right. I do.” He squeezed her hand, imprinting his mark on her further. “Never any desire to do anything else?”
She closed her eyes as he moved his fingers along her while Cullen tucked himself right against her, making it so her arm was around him. “Not sure.”
Parker’s touch was making her a puddle of mush, and it wasn’t overtly sexual. He was just touching her. “Meaning?”
“Never gave it much thought.”
“So, no push from your parents?”
“I lost them when I was younger. Just kind of on my own except for Ryliee.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
The tender moment splintered when she heard Gemma’s high-pitched voice as she, no doubt, crossed the yards.
“’Night, Cullen,” she whispered, and kissed him on the head. Then she walked away, knowing if she stayed, there would be ugliness.
The evening had been pleasant, and they were learning more about each other, and while nice, she still hesitated to allow him all the way in. To be witness to her darkest secrets.
She’d just carried her cup of hot tea to her usual side of the couch, Alpin on his bed, when Parker walked in. Her heart kicked up a few notches, and she averted her gaze to the crossword puzzle beside her.
Seconds after she’d gotten to her page, he lowered himself to the couch beside her.
“Skylar.”
“Hmm?” She clicked her pen top and wrote down the answer to the clue. HAMLET.
“Look at me.”
“What?”
“Tell me more about your parents.”
She didn’t want to. “Why? We’re not a real couple. It’s not necessary.”
Thunder rolled in his gaze, but he didn’t let it go. He reached out and took her hand, lacing their fingers. “We are friends.”
She didn’t respond, and he blinked a few times.
“Right? We’re friends, and this is what friends do. They talk and share.”
Telling him she was tempted beyond belief to say no and erect the walls she needed to keep herself safe danced on the tip of her tongue. However, when she opened her mouth, all that fell out was, “Yes.”
His smile was incredible, like she’d given him the moon.
It was like he truly was interested.
“Talk to me.”
“I lost my parents my junior year of high school.” The familiar ache when she thought about them resurfaced but didn’t overwhelm, as it had done in the past.
He tucked some curls behind her ear using his free hand, never taking his gaze from hers. So she continued.
“Mom and Dad were out, celebrating their anniversary.” A sad smile turned up her lips as she remembered seeing them dressed to the nines. “A fancy dinner followed by a night at the opera. It wasn’t something they’d do often. My parents, well, we didn’t have a lot of money. This was something he always did for her, do the anniversary big. My dad wouldn’t ever be gone on a business trip that would keep him away from her on their anniversary.”
The endless motion of his thumb stroking along the back of her hand calmed the storm within her, helping her through this.
“The cops called it a robbery gone wrong.” She flattened her lips. “I don’t care about the reason, and a lot of people couldn’t understand why I didn’t. All I knew was I lost my parents. To me, if the ones doing it wanted their money, car, didn’t like them for the color of their skin, it didn’t matter. They’d been taken from me.” Her body trembled, and he squeezed her hand, offering silent support, all the while not taking his eagle-sharp gaze from her. “And my